Muschamp: UF may use two QBs

Thursday

May 3, 2012 at 12:01 AMMay 4, 2012 at 12:30 AM

UF coach spoke near Sarasota on Thursday

By Doug FernandesSarasota Herald-Tribune

LAKEWOOD RANCH — All the Florida trinkets were on display and ready for purchase. The Gator disciples inside the Polo Grill and Bar had polished off their chicken and potatoes and were spoon-deep in the bread pudding.Everything was in place for Thursday's combined gathering of the Sarasota and Manatee county Gator Clubs.

Everything. But not everyone.Running about 45 minutes late, the event's headliner, Florida head football coach Will Muschamp, finally arrived from Gainesville.The crowd of about 200, many clad in orange or blue, waited patiently for Muschamp to take the microphone and deliver the state of the Gators.Patience, it seems, was the theme at previous Gator Club meetings in Jacksonville and Daytona Beach.Patience for Muschamp. Patience for the Gators. Patience in fortifying a program coming off its worst season in more than 20 years.“I think everybody has been realistic about where we are,'' he said. “The last two years we're 15-11. It's not acceptable to the University of Florida.“It's our job to do a better job of recruiting, evaluating, developing our players, and that's what we intend to do.''Muschamp's rookie season was mercurial, to say the least. The Gators won their first four games before dropping the next four, losing to Alabama by 28 points and top-ranked LSU by 30.Over its last five games, Florida went 3-2, losing to Florida State 21-7, but finishing up with a 24-17 Gator Bowl victory over Ohio State.“There's a fine line between winning and losing,'' Muschamp said. “And, obviously, we had our opportunities in seven games last year.“We're down to a one- or two-score game, and we're 3-4 in those games. Let's flip that. Let's go 5-2 or 6-1 in those games. Maybe we're playing in Atlanta.''In January, the Gators hired Brent Pease as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach. In the spring game last month, linebacker/defensive end Ronald Powell, the team leader in sacks last season with six, suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament.Muschamp said he's progressing well. Also in the spring game, quarterbacks Jacoby Brissett and Jeff Driskel took turns under center, a scenario that could materialize this fall.“If we need to play two,'' Muschamp said, “we'll play two.''As far as the area products with the Gators, Venice's Trey and Clay Burton, and Southeast's Brian Poole, Muschamp likes what he's seen.“Trey is just a really good football player,'' he said. “He gets it; football comes easy to him. He will play fullback, the H, he'll play in the slot, he's going to play a lot of different places and on all special teams.“Clay had a really good spring at tight end. Very pleased with his progress at that position. He figures to take considerable snaps for us at tight end.''Poole, meanwhile, has the versatility to play cornerback, nickel, dime and safety for the Gators.“He's a guy who has a tremendous upside as a player,'' Muschamp said. “A very intelligent young man. I'm glad he's a Gator.“He will have every opportunity in the world to play for us next season. But playing as a freshman is very hard to predict. You never know how they're going to respond in situations.''Muschamp said the Gators need to build depth on both sides of the ball. They need to get more playmakers on offense, more consistency on defense.But they've gotten stronger in the weight room, and the addition of Pease should mean more motion and shifts with the Florida offense.“Let's be realistic about where we are,'' Muschamp said. “We're not far off.''